Typologies ...............................................
City as Art ...............................................
City as Machine
...............................................
City as Text
...............................................

“A city…is like the layers of a coral reef in which
each generation constructs the characteristic stony
skeleton as a contribution to the growing yet dying
and wearying whole”

COLLINGWOOD

-Patrick Geddes

Cities are extremely complex and chaotic entities.
As such, it is only through rigorous morphological
analysis, that one is able to truly understand their
significance. Through the process of separating a
city into its morphological layers, periods of key
theoretical influence are able to be identified and
understood.
The city of Melbourne is a city that has undergone
immense morphological change since its formation.
From its initial establishment that came with the
Hoddle Grid, Melbourne has transformed into a
hybrid-city: a morphed urban landscape whereby
its original Victorian urban planning is placed into
contrast with Modernist and contemporary planning
principles.

Figure One:
Location of Collingwood in comparison to
the Hoddle Grid and Melbourne CBD
Source: Tracing of Google Earth image

Specifically, the suburb of Collingwood is a precinct
which typifies this amalgamated application of urban
design theory, so commonly witnessed throughout
Melbourne. Since the first subdivision of lots in 1838,
Collingwood’s urban landscape has borne witness
to rapid morphological change: from its days as an
industrial powerhouse, to a poverty stricken slum,
and eventually into a gentrified and sought after
inner-city suburb.
The following report will aim to unpack the
morphological transformation of a large portion
of Collingwood. The history of the chosen site
(bordered by Hoddle Street to its east, Wellington
Street to its west, Gipps Street to its south and
Johnston Street to its north) reflects key periods of
urban design theories that were put to practice in
the typical Australian city.

Through analyzing the morphological layers
of Collingwood’s urban fabric, one is able to
distinguish the application of key urban design
theorems. Even in its current state, one is able
to trace historical methodologies that have been
applied in the suburb (See Figure ?).
As a way of understanding the theoretical urban
design principles applied in Collingwood, the
following report compares and contrasts three
historical layers of information:
1853, 1890 and 2015.
Figure Three: Victorian era
Source: Google Earth

This report will aim to draw linkages between the
urban landscape of each historical layer and the
influential urban design theories that it correlates
to. Specifically, three eras of urban design thought
apply to Collingwood’s urban history. They will be
referred to as:

1961
Jane Jacobs, ‘ The Life and Death of Great
American Cities’
1961
Gordon Cullen, ‘ Townscape’
1977
Christopher Alexander, ‘ City is not a Tree’
Figure Five: Industrial era
Source: Google Earth

Tahj Rosmarin. s731906.

The Shaping of Urban Design. ABPL 90316.

3.

20

15

L

hi
ac
M
t
a s Tex
y
s
t
Ci y a
he Cit
T
e
:
e r Th
ay

18

90

1

y
La

3
85

er

La

:T

r
ye

he

h
:T

Ci

e

ty

ne

x
Te
as

2.

t

ex
sT
a
ty
Ci

t

1.

Figure Six: Context of site
Source: Tahj Rosmarin

Tahj Rosmarin. s731906.

The Shaping of Urban Design. ABPL 90316.

Theoretical Framework
Influential Thinkers

1890-1920: The City as Art
The first period of urban theory applicable to Collingwood,
is the City as Art period. The influence of the European
city can be clearly read in this time-frame: it’s visually
aesthetic and hierarchical design principles laid the
original foundations of this suburb.
The theories proposed in the writings of Camillo
Sitte, specifically his book ‘ City Planning according to
Artistic Principles ’ can be compared to this period of
Collingwood’s history. The work of other theorists, such
as Raymond Unwin and Hegemann and Peets, can also be
linked to this period of Collingwood’s urban growth.
Figure Seven: Camillo Sitte
Source: Wikipedia

1920-1960: The City as Machine
The second period of urban design theory that can be read
in Collingwood’s history is the City as Machine period.
This period’s influence upon Collingwood can be broken
into two elements: the emergence of industrial building
typologies and the application of Modernist planning
principles.

Figure Eight: Le Corbusier
Source: Wikipedia

With its working class social status, Collingwood proved to
be perfectly suited to welcome the industrial revolution.
The suburb began to abandon its picturesque qualities,
and instead apply an industrial and commercial attitude to
its urban fabric. A strong link can be made to the work of
Ebenezer Howard, specifically his ‘ Garden City’ planning
principles, which no doubt influenced this shift in attitude
towards urban theory.
This City as Machine period reached boiling point with
the construction of the large social housing towers which
currently dominate the suburb. These buildings are an
obvious manifestation of the architectural concepts of
key Modernist thinkers, most obviously Le Corbusier. Their
free-standing and rational nature can be directly related to
Le Corbusier’s ‘ Radiant City’ .

Tahj Rosmarin. s731906.

The Shaping of Urban Design. ABPL 90316.

1960-2000: The City as Text
The final period of urban design theory, the City as Text, is
a movement that gained prominence as a reaction to the
harshness of Modernism. During this period, Collingwood’s
urbanism saw a return to the walkable and picturesque
qualities it first aspired towards.
Specifically, the work of Jane Jacobs, and her book ‘ The
Life and Death of Great American Cities ’ can be related to
this period of Collingwood’s urban gentrification.

Collingwood’s origins can
be traced with Clement
Hodginkson’s survey in 1858.
Subdivision had already
occurred, and key urban design
theories were applied.

With the rise of the Gold Rush
in Australia, Collingwood’s
urban fabric densified. Churches
and civic buildings began to be
erected, while streets became
retail boulevards influenced by
the European city.

Collingwood’s working class
social ranking allowed for
the industrial revolution to
influence its urban fabric.
Warehouses were built and
industry became a vital element
of the suburb’s character.

This period of history was
still coming to terms with its
Modernist past. The erection of
the social housing towers in the
1960’s completely altered the
urban fabric of the suburb until
this day.

Collingwood is now a suburb
that is a reminder of its
turbulent urban history. It’s
gentrification has encouraged
new types of development
which promote walkability and
the human scale.

Jane Jacobs

Smith Street, 2015
Source: Tahj Rosmarin

Le Corbusier

Collingwood Housing Commission
Source: Victorian State Library

Ebenezer Howard

Foy and Gibson Factories
Source: Victorian State Library

02.
Analysis

Street Structure

Hoddle Stre
et

Wellington
Street

1.

1858: The European City

Johnston St
reet

Gipps Street

The original hierarchy of Collingwood’s street structure
consisted of three street types: main streets, typical
suburban streets and service laneways. Main streets, such
as Wellington and Johnston Street, acted as civic spaces.
These axial boulevards consisted of retail and commercial
functions and were no doubt influenced by the boulevards
of the European city.
This aesthetic approach to the ‘street’ is typical of this
time period- whereby main streets created spaces for
public gatherings and high street-edge pedestrian activity,
often providing visual connectivity to civic monuments. The
zoning of this street network is reminiscent of Ebenezer
Howard’s ‘Garden City’ proposal- whereby streets are
arranged from boulevards to residential streets.

Since its densification, the introduction of laneways
in 1885, was a direct result of the subdivision of the
building allotments. The lack of proper public transport
infrastructure encouraged pedestrian activity within
suburb, resulting in smaller building blocks and a more
permeable street network.
Jane Jacobs favored this approach to planning in her book
â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;The Death and Life of Great American Citiesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; , whereby
pedestrian permeability was essential to the construction
of a successful urban fabric. The subdivision of blocks
in Collingwood manifested this concept: whereby blocks
became short and therefore increased pedestrian activity.

Since the industrial revolution in the 1900’s, the street
network of Collingwood changed to accommodate an
industrial urban fabric. The following quote from Andrew C
Ward and Associates clearly explains this shift in attitude:
Hoddle Stre
et

Wellington
Street

3.

1921: The Industrial City

Johnston St
reet

Gipps Street

“By 1924, lanes which had once hidden a ‘criminal class’
were lined by factories rather than cottages. Shopkeepers
who had once been outraged by Collingwood larrikins…had
fled to new suburbs across the river. Fewer hotels stood at
street corners. Melburnians moved about by tram or train
or by car rather than on foot” 1
This altered street hierarchy was a direct result of the
Industrial Revolution and reflects ideologies proposed
in Tony Garnier’s ‘Cite Industrielle’ . Similar to Ebenezer
Howard, Garnier’s proposal aimed at zoning the city into
constituent elements, combining industry and public
space. The re-introduction of large blocks to accomodate
the social housing projects of the 1960’s also reflects the
Modernist planning principles of Le Corbusier’s ‘ Radiant
City ’, whereby buildings were surrounded by open space.

Since the implementation of Modernist plannnig,
Collingwood’s street network has seen a return to
its original walkable qualities. Laneways have been
re-introduced, and pedestrian activity is generally
encouraged. The following quote from heritage architect
Andrew C Ward summarizes this approach:

“With places of employment and business enterprises
close at hand, and the city proper within reasonable
walking distance, Collingwood residents did not require
extensive public transport services…In this respect,
Collingwood still exhibits ‘walking city’ characteristics” 1
The writings of Kevin Lynch in his book ‘The Image of the
City’ reflect this aproach- whereby neighbourhoods are
devised according to distinguishable elements such as
paths, edges, districts, nodes and landmarks.

1858: Large Plot Sizes
In 1938, Collingwood was originally subdivided into 12 ha
allotments. Purchasers of these lots, subdivided these
lots further for resale so that my 1858, most lots had been
subdivided already.
This subdivision encouraged the construction of small
buildings and a dense urban fabric.

2015: Subdivided Plot Sizes
The gentrification of Collingwood has called for the
subdivision of different lots depending on their functional
use. Johnston Street has become a competitive
commercial hub- calling for the subdivision of property for
maximum street frontage. The Collingwood Housing Estate
dominates a large property outline- a remnant of the
Modernist period.

Figure Sixteen:
Colloquially referred to as the ‘Doll’s House’, this house was
located within Collingwood during the 1800’s. As a result of
subdivision of plot sizes, it is now known as the smallest house in
Australia.
Source: Collingwood Historical Society

Tahj Rosmarin. s731906.

The Shaping of Urban Design. ABPL 90316.

Dight Street 33 feet wide

Rokeby Street 33 feet wide

Campbell Street 33 feet wide

Rupert Street 33 feet wide

Sturt Street

Cromwell Street

Figure Seventeen:
This diagram demonstrates the extent of subdivision that occured
in the area. This urban fabric is still able to be noticed in Campbell
Street to this day.
Source: City of Collingwood, lith no 00158, 1873

Tahj Rosmarin. s731906.

The Shaping of Urban Design. ABPL 90316.

Built Form

1858: Scattered Urban Fabric
Subdivision encouraged the building of
small residential components.
However, the small grain size suggests
that a high urban density was a rational
and planned objective, encouraged by
governmental authorities.

1890: Densification
The Yarra River, alongside the Gold Rush
encouraged densification to occur throught
the Collingwood Flat.
The built form from this era can be linked
towards the urban planning principles
of Camillo Sitte and Raymond Unwin.
Informal built form encourages a village-like
atmosphere, whereby pedestrian access is a
major component.

Figure Nineteen: Built Fabric
Source: 1890 MBW Plan

Tahj Rosmarin. s731906.

2.

2015: Mix-Function Urban
Fabric
Since the 1980â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, Collingwood has
undergone immense gentrification. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s
current built form is representative of
many eras of urban design thought.
Building typologies range from Victorian,
to Industrial, to Modernist and
contemporary.

Village-like: Dight and Campbell
Streets
The built fabric of the 1800â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s can be clearly related to
the concepts proposed by such theorists as Raymond
Unwin, Camillo Sitte and Gordon Cullen.
Specifically, the built form of Campbell and Dight
Street contain a unique urban character that is
similar to a Medieval village. Buildings are quaint
and are variations of a similar typology. Despite its
repetitive nature, the street appears as a walkable
and picturesque sequence.

Civic Buildings: Location of churches
The key presence of civic buildings in the 1800â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, such
as schools and churches, can be clearly related to the
City as Art period.
Churches acted as picturesque public gathering
spaces. They introduced a sense of monumentality
within the built fabric and introduced a hierarchy of
building typologies.

Figure Twenty Four: A church located on
Wellington Street
Source: Tahj Rosmarin

The Shaping of Urban Design. ABPL 90316.

Building Heights

1858: Super Low Rise
Originally, Collingwoodâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s building heights
did not exceed two storeys. Construction
was dominated by Victorian and Edwardian
terrace houses that rarely exceeded two
storeys.

During the densification of Collingwood,
building heights were still low rise. Most
residential components never exceed
two storeys, while civic buildings such as
churches and community halls towered
above the rest.

The urban fabric of the area is now
dominated by large housing towers,
medium sized industrial warehouses and
small fine grain residential components.

Figure Twenty Six: Built Fabric
Source: 1890 MBW Plan

Tahj Rosmarin. s731906.

2.

Figure Twnety Seven: Built Fabric
Source: Victoria Planning.

3.

The Shaping of Urban Design. ABPL 90316.

1858

1858: The City as Art
In summary, the urban fabric of Collingwood in 1885 can
be most correlated to the urban design theories of Camillo
Sitte, Raymond Unwin and Ebenezer Howard.
Low building heights, combined with a high density and
conscious street hierarchy make reference to the ‘Garden
City’ models proposed by Unwin and Ebenezer. The
subdvision of lots encouraged a fine grain development
which was planned.

Camillo Sitte

This scattered built form is reminiscent of the type of city
Camillo Sitte’s foregrounded: whereby picturesque and
village-like qualities were at the forefront.

Raymond Unwin

Ebenezer Howard

Figure Twenty Eight: A picturesque sequence
Source: (Sitte, 1965)

Tahj Rosmarin. s731906.

The Shaping of Urban Design. ABPL 90316.

Tahj Rosmarin. s731906.

The Shaping of Urban Design. ABPL 90316.

1890

1890: The City as Art
The City as Text
The morphological layer of Collingwood in 1890 further
relates to the City as Art period. Densfication encouraged
the further subdivision of lots and as a result morphed the
street network.
Alongside creating a more picturesque sequence,
the introduction of laneways also resulted in a more
permeable built fabric. This type of environment, whereby
pedestrian walkability was a key aspect, is favoured in the
works of authors as Jane Jacobs and Leon Krier.
Camillo Sitte

The construction of key civic spaces acted as public
meeting spaces, while the further subdivision of blocks
represented private development.

Raymond Unwin

Jane Jacobs

Leon Krier

Figure Twenty Nine: City being made up of private and public parts
Source: (Krier, Thadani and Hetzel, 2009)

Tahj Rosmarin. s731906.

The Shaping of Urban Design. ABPL 90316.

Tahj Rosmarin. s731906.

The Shaping of Urban Design. ABPL 90316.

2015

2015: The City as Machine
The City as Text
The current urban fabric of Collingwood is representative
of a ‘collage’ of urban design ideas. In it’s current state,
one is most clearly able to read the urban design ideas of
Modernism.
The construction of large towers that stand freely in space
can be most obviously linked to the ideas proposed by Le
Corbusier. The following quote from Le Corbusier is highly
relevant to this:

Le Corbusier

“A city should be treated by its planner as a blank
piece of paper, a clean table-cloth, upon which a
single, integrated composition is imposed”.1

Since the influence of Modernism, Collingwood has seen
major gentrification and a return to the principles of postmodernist theorists as Jane Jacobs and Colin Rowe.

Jane Jacobs

The re-inhabitation of old buildings, alongside major
streetfront activity, related to Jacobs’ belief in ‘eyes on
the street’ and a healthy and mixed functional use.
1

Over time, many different building typologies were
employed to construct Collingwood’s urban fabric. In
fact, just through reading the different typologies which
currently exist, one is able to gain an understandng of
the morphological history of the suburb.
In it current urban form, three major typologies make
up Collingwood. They are buildings from the Victorian
and Edwardian period (original developments), buildings
from the age of industry, and buildings from the
Modernist period.
The following chapter aims to summarise a few
key buildings that are typical of the majority of
Collingwood’s building types.

1890-1920: Picturesque
Building typologies from this period can be seperated into
two broad categories:
1. Private (relating to residences and small commercial)
2. Civic (relating to key civic buildings such as churches)
The buildings were generally very well constructed,
employing clear architectural design motifs that were
present at the time.

Figure Thirty Seven: Context of site during 1800â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s
Source: State Library of Victoria

Tahj Rosmarin. s731906.

The Shaping of Urban Design. ABPL 90316.

Typologies
City as Art

1885-1890: Collingwood Town Hall
The Collingwood Town Hall is a magnificent civic space
that dominated over the urban fabric of Collingwood.
It was designed by architect George R. Johnson who
designed many civic buildings in Melbourne.

Tahj Rosmarin. s731906.

The Shaping of Urban Design. ABPL 90316.

1870’s: Sturt Street Victorian Housing
These worker’s cottages are typical of this period. They
are a result of the subvision of Collingwood during the
mid 1800’s whereby lots were made smaller and smaller.
Althought the pattern is repeated down the street,
individual character is found in each of the houses,
reminiscent of a Medieval village.

Tahj Rosmarin. s731906.

The Shaping of Urban Design. ABPL 90316.

Typologies
City as Machine

1920-1960: Efficiency
Buildings from this time period are probably the most
visible in Collingwood’s current urban fabric. Large
industrial warehouses, such as the Foy and Gibson
factories (opposite) were rampant during the early 1900’s.
The rise of Modernism inspired an efficient and functional
method of housing the masses. No doubt inspired by Le
Corbusier’s Radiant City model, large social housing towers
were constructed and still dominate the site to this day.

Figure Thirty Eight: The Radiant City
Source: (Le Corbusier, 1925)

Tahj Rosmarin. s731906.

The Shaping of Urban Design. ABPL 90316.

Figure Thirty Nine: Foy and Gibson Factories at their peak
Source: State Library of Victoria

1920: Strath Knits Factory
Industrial building such as these were increasingly built
during the Industrial Revolution. Varying trades existed in
Collingwood during this period. Factories such as this one
have now been re-purposed and are host to many new
retail and residential purposes.

Strath
Knits
MANUFACTORERS OF FASHION KNITWEAR

15

Tahj Rosmarin. s731906.

The Shaping of Urban Design. ABPL 90316.

1960: Housing Commission Towers
The erection of the social housing towers in the 1960â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s
by the Housing Commission, reflect the key concepts of
Modernism. These towers obliterated the existing fabric
of the site, and tower over the inner city suburbs of
Melbourne.

Tahj Rosmarin. s731906.

The Shaping of Urban Design. ABPL 90316.

Typologies
City as Text

1960-2000â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s: Pedestrian focus
Since the construction of the Modernist social housing
towers, Collingwood has undergone a period of immense
gentrification. The influx of migrants has resulted in the
strengthening of key streets such as Smith Street. This has
encouraged a walkable and permeable neighbourhood.
During this period, old building typologies have been repurposed and used in inventive and creative ways.

Figure Forty: Smith Street, Collingwood
Source: Tahj Rosmarin

Tahj Rosmarin. s731906.

The Shaping of Urban Design. ABPL 90316.

Figure Forty One: Gold Street, Collingwood
Source: Tahj Rosmarin

Figure Forty Two: Campbell St, Collingwood
Source: Wikipedia

Tahj Rosmarin. s731906.

The Shaping of Urban Design. ABPL 90316.

Typologies
City as Text

1910: Johnston Street Retail
Retail buildings such as these have been re-purposed and
re-allocated. They now are host to functions ranging from
residential to retail, encouraging Jane Jacob’s concept of
having ‘eyes on the street’.

Tahj Rosmarin. s731906.

The Shaping of Urban Design. ABPL 90316.

1970: Social Housing, Campbell Street
These sensitive social housing typologies aim to respect
the neighbourhood scale of Campbell Street. They are
sensitive in scale and help strengthen the character of the
Victorian suburb.

Tahj Rosmarin. s731906.

The Shaping of Urban Design. ABPL 90316.

04.

Case Study: Johnston Street
Tahj Rosmarin. s731906.

The Shaping of Urban Design. ABPL 90316.

Johnston Street 1907

Source: State Library of Victoria
Tahj Rosmarin. s731906.

The Shaping of Urban Design. ABPL 90316.

Johnston Street

1900: Grand Boulevard
During the 1900’s, Johnston Street acted as Collingwood’s
civic centre: it was planned as a long axial road with retail
alongside it.
Pavement space was favoured, while a slow tram provided
further accessibility to retail. Further, the street was wide
and uncongested, encouraging a walkable, village type
atmosphere.

2015: Congested Retail
Over the years, Johnston Streetâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fabric has changed
drastically. The removal of the trams alongside the
densification of surrounding suburbs has allowed for a
congested street makeup.
Despite this, there is still a strong retail component, paired
with industrial building typologies.

2015: Congested retail street
The Victorian and Edwardian elements of Johnston
Street are still heavily defined, however many industrial
warehouses now share the streetscape. The widening
of vehicular lanes and removal of the tram network has
allowed for heavy traffic to flow along the road.

Throughout its years, Collingwood is a suburb that has
undergone rapid morphological transformation. From its
early days as a safe-haven for Melbourne’s poor, to its
days as an industrial powerhouse, the suburb serves as a
reminder of Melbourne’s recent history.
It’s current urban fabric is reminiscent of a collage of
sorts- a mix-mash of different historical periods in which
different urban design theorems were tested.
Early Victorian buildings and street defined a very
European hierarchy- one that helped provide a framework
in which future development could take place. Early
Collingwood was envisaged as a dense village, with
major streets acting as civic boulevards. This approach
to planning was very much in line with European
contemporaries as Camillo Sitte, Raymond Unwin and even
Ebenezer Howard.
The emergence of industry welcomed a new era of urban
design thought- one that favoured the machine. Industrial
warehouses were scattered around the suburb and helped
provide the poor with opportunities to make a living.
The influence of Modernism was also felt very strongly
and seen as a way of dealing with the ‘so-called’ slum
conditions Collingwood experienced post WWII. Large
buildings, innapropriate and unaware of their immediate
context, were erected as an attempt to solve Collingwood’s
growing housing shortage.
Since this period, gentrification has seen Collingwood
return to it’s previous days as a walkable suburb with a
strong character. The re-introduction of laneways suggest
a focus upon the pedestrian, while re-purposed buildings
have welcomed a healthy functional mix to the suburb.